1. Ash's Story (Part 10: Galar)

Chapter 66: Road to Wyndon

Sonia and Professor Magnolia were waiting outside Hammerlocke Stadium when Alice and I stepped into the afternoon light. The stadium still roared behind us, carrying Hop and Victor's challenge toward Raihan, but Sonia's smile made the noise feel farther away.

"Hey there, Ash and Alice!" Sonia called. "You gave Raihan a good thrashing, and that means you've completed the Gym Challenge. Congratulations, from the bottom of my heart!"

"Thank you, Sonia," Alice said.

I held the Dragon Badge case close for a moment, feeling the weight of the whole path through Galar settle in my hand. It was not over, but one door had closed behind us properly.

Sonia's smile faded into worry. "I wish we could celebrate, but there are things we need to talk over. That light that covered Hammerlocke was just like the Darkest Day, where giant Pokémon rampaged across Galar."

Professor Magnolia nodded, cane resting against the ground. "It certainly seems that way, my dear. We Dynamax Pokémon today using energy from fallen Wishing Stars, but we still do not fully control the force behind it."

Alice looked toward the stadium towers. "And the two heroes?"

"We do not truly know who, or what, they were," Magnolia said. "The sword and shield remain symbols, but symbols are not enough when red light begins moving again."

Pikachu shifted on my shoulder, ears flat against the wind, "Old stories are waking before anyone has finished reading them."

I rubbed his back gently. "Then Sonia is going to need every page she can find."

Professor Magnolia looked at Sonia for a long, quiet moment. Then she removed her lab coat. The gesture made Sonia's eyes widen before the coat even left Magnolia's hands.

"Sonia, my dearest," Magnolia said. "My lab coat is yours now."

Sonia stepped back. "Gran, are you sure? I still haven't finished the work you assigned me."

"Think of it as something to help you finish that work," Magnolia replied.

Sonia took off her brown coat with trembling hands and slipped into the white lab coat. It looked slightly too heavy at first, but then she straightened her shoulders, and the coat looked like it had been waiting for her.

"Professor Sonia," Alice said softly.

Sonia laughed once, shaky and bright. "Y-yeah. Professor Sonia."

Magnolia's expression stayed gentle but firm. "The truth behind the Darkest Day, the two heroes, and the sword and shield is yours to find now."

Sonia held the lapel of the lab coat. "I'll do what I can. You, Alice, or Hop could be the one to take down Leon, and I don't want to miss that. Go on. Head to the station before you miss the train."

I nodded. "We'll get to Wyndon. You find the truth."

Sonia's smile returned, steadier this time. "That is the plan."

The lab coat changed the way people looked at Sonia before she had even said another word. A few League staff members at the entrance whispered her new title, and Sonia heard them. She did not look proud in a simple way. She looked afraid of the size of the work, but ready to step toward it anyway.

I had watched many people grow into new roles during my journey. Some earned badges, some took leadership, some found a voice they had hidden. Sonia's moment felt quieter, but no smaller. She was not being handed an answer. She was being trusted with the responsibility to chase one.

Magnolia tapped her cane against the stone. "Do not confuse uncertainty with failure. The legends survived because people kept asking questions after the songs ended."